Proverbs 3 · Verse 31

Proverbs 3:31

Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Proverbs 3:31, King James Version

Proverbs 3:31 in other translations

BSBDo not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;
WEBDon’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
ASVEnvy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.
YLTBe not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.
DARBYEnvy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
BBEHave no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
WebsterEnvy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

What does Proverbs 3:31 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
31. oppressor--or man of mischief. The destiny of successful evildoers warns against desiring their lot (Psa 37:1, 2, 35, 36).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 31 Envy thou not the oppressor - O how bewitching is power! Every man desires it; and yet all hate tyrants. But query, if all had power, would not the major part be tyrants?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 3:27-35

Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking redress by law. It will be found there is little got by striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from the disciples of Christ to choose any of their…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 3:27-35 →

Proverbs 3:31 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תְּ֭קַנֵּאTe.ka.ne'you be jealousH7065
בְּאִ֣ישׁbe.'Ishof a person ofH376
חָמָ֑סcha.MasviolenceH2555
וְאַל\־ve.'al-and may notH408
תִּ֝בְחַ֗רtiv.Charyou chooseH977
בְּכָל\־be.khol<in> allH3605
דְּרָכָֽיו\׃de.ra.Khavways hisH1870

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 3:31

  • Proverbs 24:1

    Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

  • Psalms 37:1

    A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

  • Galatians 5:21

    Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:8

    If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

  • Proverbs 23:17

    Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

  • Proverbs 24:19-20

    Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

  • Proverbs 12:12

    The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

  • Proverbs 1:15-18

    My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

  • Proverbs 2:12-15

    To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

  • Psalms 37:7-9

    Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

  • Proverbs 22:22-25

    Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: For the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.

  • Psalms 73:3

    For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Envy.
23:17; 24:1,19,20; Ps 37:1,7-9; 73:3; Ga 5:21
the oppressor. Heb. a man of violence.
Ec 5:8
choose.
1:15-18; 2:12-15; 12:12; 22:22-25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 3:30

    Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

  • Proverbs 3:31

    Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

  • Proverbs 3:32

    For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

Read all of Proverbs 3

Proverbs 3:31 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No envidies al hombre injusto, ni escojas alguno de sus caminos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ne porte pas envie à un homme violent, et ne choisis aucune de ses voies;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Beneide nicht den Mann der Gewalttat, und erwähle keinen von seinen Wegen. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ne æmuleris hominem injustum, nec imiteris vias ejus: